Automatic railroad switch



Feb. 5, 1929. 1,701,282

l.. sTANKo AUTOMATI C RAILROAD SWITCH Filed Sept '5, 1927 EEE. 41

J ATTORNEY Patented FebQS, 1929.v`

UNITED STATE Louis s'rANxo," or'. nENBo, PENNSYLVANIA. Y l

Au'roMA'rIc RAILROAD SWITCH.

y Application lledrseptevmber 3, 1927. Serial No. 217,371.y

e locomotive as the latter'v approaches vthe switch.

Another object` of my invention is the provision of an automatic switch adapted to be operated automatically and tobe Vop- 1o erated manually from a point at a distance from the switch.. n A further object of my inventionis the provision of signaling mechanism' for 1nforming an engineer when the switch has been manually mani ulated.

A still further ob]ect of my invention is lthe provisionof anadjusting mechanism for setting the manual operating member to respond to a predetermined movement.

Referring particularly to the drawing:v Fig.` 1 is a side elevational View of atrack and engine embodying my improved automatic switching apparatus. y .Y

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a track embodying my invention. v I

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the releasing apparatus of my invention.y

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on' the l1ne 4 4 OfFig. 2. Y ,Y Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken kon the l1ne 5-5 vof Fig. 2.

Fig'. 6 is a matic switching apparatus.

. Referring particularly to branch thereof. The rail14 is of the usual construction and .is vextended through and past the branch while the rail 15 is curved.y

awa from the main line of the railroad, the railv15 being made integral withl the rail 15of the branch line. 'A rail section 16, comprising a pivotally mounted rail'section 17 is disposed forwardly substantially detailed view ofthe manualy operating,mechanismof my improved auto-.-

FigQl of the l drawing, the numeral 10 designatesarod' parallel to the-through rail 14 and is formed integral with a rail section 18 of the branch line which comprises a pivotally mounted, diagonally disposed Arail section y19 `havin a tapered endV v20 adapted to be dispose adjacent the' sides ofthe through ra1l 14. The pivotally mounted 4 section 17 of the rail 16 is also provided with abeveled or tapered end portion 21 which is adapted to be dis-l posed adjacent the side of the curved portion ofthe rail 15.

The free ends of the pivotally vmounted rail sections 17 and; 19 are. mounted onqa cross-member 22 which. is disposed below the rails and which is slidably mounted Von a horizontal base 23 also disposed below said rails. This cross-member is adapted Vto `be PATENT OFFICE.

moved transversely ofthe track for the ur-` f pose of positioning the beveled end 20 o the rail section 19 adjacent the through track 14 when it is desired t'o'cause the locomotive to travel olf of themain track onto the branch line and to move he rail end 21 of the pivotally. mountedrail section 17 adja cent the curved portion of the rail 15 for causing the locomotive tol continue on they main line. It should be understood that by thefcross-member22 so -that when one rail seetion'is placed in contact with its adjacent rail the other pivotally mounted rail section is moved out of engagement with y its adjacent rail.

The mechanism disclosed in detail in Figs. 2, 3, aand 5, is for the'purpose of automatically causing thev cross-'member 22 to be moved selectively in oneI or the otherdirection by the approach of a locomotive. Trigf gers 24 are pivotally mounted onbrackets 26 and 27, respectively, lwhich are secured to the opposite end portions lof a tie 28 located` Y on the kmainline in advance ofthe branch line. These triggers arefpivotally connected with the extremities of the rods 29v and 30 Which are disposed.. parallel to and outside of the rails 4rof thel track.l The rearward' ends of the rods 29'and 30 are pivotally.

connected with' arms `of angular levers 31 and 32, respectively, rotatively mountedl on the base 23. The rod 30 ispivoted directly to the angular lever 32, and a spring 33 is disposed between the end ofthe rod 29 and. the langular lever 31. A spring '34 attached to the end of the arm 31 of thellever 31 resists the action of thespring 34and *when* f the tension in the spring 33 is increased by forwardV movement ont the rod 29 the angular lever 31 is rot-ated in a clockwise direction. The arm 31 of the angular lever 31 is attached to the end of the cross-member 22 and is adapted to move the latter and the pivotally mounted rail sections in the direction of the through rail 14 'for the purpose of' causing the locomotive to be Uuided onto the branch line.v

A rocker 35 is mounted on the cross-mem.- ber 22, as shown in Fig. 5 and is provided with avcatch 36 which is adapted to engage the edge of a pivotally mounted lever 37 for holding the cross-'member 22 after it has been moved in the direction 01'? the raii 14 by thel angular lever 31. The rocker is secured to the cross-member 22 by a bolt 38 which is provided with nut 39 for clamping the rocker to the crossnnember. A second bolt 40 is screwthreaded in the cro."V member 22 and entends tlnough a slot the end ofthe rocker Jfor guiding and hold ing the same in position during rocking movements thereof.

The lever 37 is pivotally mounted on a block 41 secured to one ot the ties and is adapted to be rotated in a substantially khorizontal plane, said lever being guided by a bracket 42. A spring 43 is attached at one end to an extremity ot the lever 37 'and at its other end to a tie`as shown in Fig. V2. The spring '43 tends to rotate the long arm ot the lever 37 in a cloclzwisedirection tor retaining the beveled end 450iC the short arm thereof in contact with the catch 36 ot the recirer 35.

The angle Alever 32 is connected by a red 46 *and an arm 47 with a pivotally mounted shaft 48 journaled at its yends in 'brackets 49' and 50 mounted on the 'base 23. A resilient member 51 is rigidly attached at its lower end to the shaft 43 and is adapted to rotate in unisonl therewith. The upper end of the resilient member 51 Vis positioned to engage the lextremity ot the rocker 35 ttor pressing the latter downwardly against the Aaction of the spring 52 for diser'igagine the catch 36 'from the Vvertical 'portion'44 oi' the lever 37 In Fig. 5 dotdash lines 36 simulatingthe position of catch 36 engaging the portion 44 are shown. Anticlockwise rotation of member 51 about 43 a pivot` will force catch l36 downwards for freeing purposes. Dot'dash lines 36a in Fig. 4 villustrate this condition. Rotation ot the 'resilient member y`51 is effected through the shaft 48, arm 47, rod 46, angle lever 32, and the rod 30 when an engine passes over the trigger 25 causing the latter to be pressed downwardly by `engagement of the slide rod 10 mounted on the engine with said t'lj When therod 10 has passed over the trigger 25 the above-mentioned mechanism is restored toits starting position by the action Leonesa of the spring 55 connected at one end'to the lever 32 and secured at its other end to the base 23.

As shown in Fig. 5, a pin 56 is mounted on the bottom of the pivoted rail section 19,-

andl is disposed in a recess 57 in the crossmember 22. A spring 58 is disposed between the side member of the rail sectio-n 19 and a projection 59 on the cross-member 22. The pin 56 engages the end of the slot 57 in the cross-member 22 and holds the rail section 19 from further approach to the through rail 14, it being understood that the rail section 19 is resiliently pressed against the rail 14 by the spring 58 when the crossmember is moved in the direction of the through rail.

Vlhen the catch 36 is released the spring 34 retracts the `cross-member 22 and causes the angular lever 31 to berotated anti-clockwise resulting in Ia rearward movement of the rod 29 `and resetting of the trigger .24.

It should be understood that the locomotive disclosed in Fig. l is'provided with a right hand and :left hand -`actuating means suoli as the bar 10, `and that these actuating members may be `selectively positioned to engage either vone of the triggers 24 and 25. YWhen it is desired to'rhave lthe llocomotive continue in the direction 'of the "main line the trigger 25 is pressed `downwardly to release the catch mechanism 36v of the rocker 35 for permitting the cross-member to move the pivotally mounted rail sectionsV 17 and 19 to the position shown in Fig. 2. It, however, the rails are already set in this position depression ot lthe ltrigger 25 will not change their position. When it is desired to ycause the locomotive to vdivert from the main line onto the branch line, the trigger 24 may be depressed 'for 4moving the cross* member and the rail'section mounted thereon in the directionjoit the through rail 14. When the trigger 24 is `'pressed downwardly the crossfmember is movedand 'retained in its adjusted position by the catch 36 and the lever 37. A switchnian or attendant may manually shift the cross-member itv it is desired to change the relation of the rails.

In order that the catch mechanism may be manuallyv operated trema switchmaiis cabin, apparatus is provided for rotating the long end of the lever 37 Vin a clockwise direction for rotating the short end thereof out of Contact with the catch 36 for vreleasing the cross-member 22 to permit movement oit the rail sections l17 and 19. This appaiatus is shown 'in Fig. 6 Vto compris'e'a rotatively mounted disc 60jhaving aslot `61 therein. A block 62 is slidably mounted insaid slot and is adapted to be adjusted and heldin a suitable position by the set screw 62vdisposed` in the disc 60. A connecting lihk'63 isV piv oted at one end to the lblock 62anfd 'at the other end to the lever 37. A'cable`64 isat' ffl tached tothe lower side yof the disc 60 and is adapted to rotate the same for y.causing a rotation of the 'lever 437 tofwhich the disc is connected. The free end ofthe cable 64 may bedisposed in ashanty ata'considerable distance from theswitch if desired. A sign or signal 65 may be V mounted on the disc 60 as shown in F ig. 6. l This sign is preferable for the purpose of informing the engineer of anapproaching. locomotive .that his engine is to be guided past the branch line..

The rear face of the sign is turned towards the approaching engine as illustrated in full lines and the front side of the sign isV directed to the engineer as illustrated in dotted lines, it being understood that the sign 65 rotates in unison with'the disc 60.

Having thus fully described and shown' an embodiment of my invention, what is desired to be secured by'Letters Patent of the United States, is: f

l. 'Automatic switching apparatus for railways comprising a base plate mounted below the rails of a track, a slidable member mounted longitudinally of said base plate,

a rocker mounted on one end of said slidable member, a catch on said rocker, a lever having a beveled extremity mounted on a tie of said railway adapted to engage thecatch of said rocker for retaining said slidable member in a predetermined position, actuatingmechanism comprising a trigger positioned in advance of said slidable membery and operatively connected with said slidable member adapted to be pressed downwardly when a locomotive passes thereover for 'moving said slidable member in the direction of said lever to cause the catch of the rocker thereony to engageI the beveled end of said lever for retainingsaid slidable member in an adjusted position, and pivotally mounted rail sections operatively connected with said cross-member and adapted to be. moved in unison therewith for guiding said locomotive in a predeterminedl direction.

l 2. Automatic switching apparatus for j railways comprising a base platev mounted below the rails of a track, a slidable member mounted longitudinally of said base plate, a rockerinounted on one end of said slidable member, a catch on said rocker, a lever having a beveled extremity mounted on a tie of said railway adapted to engage the catch of said rocker for retaining said slidable member in a predetermined position, actuating mechanism comprising a trigger positioned in advanceV of said slidable member and operatively connected with said slidable member adapted to kbe pressed downwardly when a locomotive passes thereover for moving said slidable member in the direction'of said lever to cause the catch of the rocker thereon to engage the beveled end 'of said lever for retaining said slidable member in an adjusted position, pivotally mounted rail sections operativelyfconnected with said cross-member.` and adapted to be moved in unison therewith for guiding' saidV locomotive in a predetermined direction, and releasing7 means comprising a `pivotally mounted ltrigger positioned: in advance of said slidable member/adapted to be pressed. f

downwardly Y whenfalocomotive passes thereover for releasing said slidable meinber, and aspring connected at. one end t0. said slidable member and at the otherend to said base plate for moving said slidable member to place said rail sections in a predetermined position yfor causing said locomotive to be guided by said rail sectionsin a predeterminedA direction. n

3. An automatic switch for railways comprising a pair of pivotally mounted rail sections, va base plate disposed below the vfree ends of said rail sections, a slidable member mounted longitudinally of said base plate, a lever pivotally mounted on a-tie kof said railway and extending over one end of 'said slidable member, a catchA adjustablyv mounted ony said slidable member adapted to engage the adjacent end of said lever, a v

spring attached at one end to said lever and at the other end to a tie of said railway for urging said. lever against said catch to hold said slidable member ,in lan adjusted position, ksaid lrail sections being mounted at their free ends on said slidable member yand adapted to be retained in position thereby, a shaft rotatively mounted on said base plate adjacent vthe catch of said slidable member, j an arm securedV to said shaft' adapted to rotate therewith and to engage said catch for urging the latter downwardly `mechanism for rotating said shaft, and a spring attached to said slidable member for moving the llatter and the yrail sections mounted'thereon when said catch isr .released.

4. An automatic switch for railways comprising a pair of pivotally mounted rail sections, a base plate disposed below ythe free ends of said rail sections, a slidable member mounted longitudinally of said base plate,

`railway and extending over one end of said slidable member, a catch adjustablymount- -to yreleasefsaid slidable member, operating `a lever pivotally mounted on a tie of said i ed on said-slidable member adapted to eni gagetheadjacent end of said lever, ay spring said catch for urging the latter downwardly to release said slidable member, operating` mechanism for rotating said shaft, a spring attached to said slidahle member for moving the latter and the rail sections mounted thereon When said catch is released, a disc rotatively mounted adjacent the outer end at the other end to said lever, and a cable attached to said dise for rotating the latter to move saidvlever against the action of the spring attached to the rear end thereofl for disengagng the forward end of said lever from the catch of said slidahle member.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

LOUIS STANKO. 

